Vermont 2022-23: New Jerseys, New Attitude

[Catfantoo]

Can't argue with any of the facility/admin comments. Also season ticket holder and the lack of rebuild is frustrating. Mike Gilligan was the only one who saw the future and while many like the old barn - he declared tear it down. The new age players want the best/latest and since we don't have it this is certainly a part of the recruiting issue. Having said that the die is cast - UVM is not tearing it down. The best we can hope for now is complete the project. I do understand the locker rooms are top notch. The scoreboard is an improvement. The plastic individual seats need to be finished. The arena entry and concourses need to be finished. This will eliminate the walking of people down by the rink edge and seat entry will be top down. I have an issue with available # of bathroom facilities. I have to wonder if we're even to acceptable code for a 4K arena. What I'm hearing is a couple things. Current UVM President is academic focused and not real supportive of $ funneling into the athletics side. 2nd board of trustees meet soon (next couple of weeks) and its hoped that some level of project resumption will be approved. Like it or not the Gut is tied to the basketball arena as it is designed to connect the buildings and share a concourse. I think we would all be appalled at the waste of millions of $ when the original project was halted. Money was spent undoing project activities already done. Steel beams were set aside to rust. My understanding is the $ to complete versus halt were not that far apart. At that time (covid) - people were unsure if the college funding system would survive and these drastic steps were taken. Hindsight is always interesting. Lets hope the board of trustee meetings go well and a doable timeline can be created and adhered to.

[NYCatamount89]

For the record, I'm glad they decided to stick with the Gut. I think we've seen in the last few years, that these cookie cutter 6,000 seat arenas like the one that was originally planned aren't cost effective and usually lack a good atmosphere. They just need the expertise and funding necessary to complete it, and do it in a way where they aren't cutting corners due to a lack of funding. There are ways to renovate these old barns to make them incredible (Northeastern) and there are times when they don't really have the support to pull it off so they end up having to plan for a new arena (Maine).

[GreenCat]

For the record, I'm glad they decided to stick with the Gut. I think we've seen in the last few years, that these cookie cutter 6,000 seat arenas like the one that was originally planned aren't cost effective and usually lack a good atmosphere. They just need the expertise and funding necessary to complete it, and do it in a way where they aren't cutting corners due to a lack of funding. There are ways to renovate these old barns to make them incredible (Northeastern) and there are times when they don't really have the support to pull it off so they end up having to plan for a new arena (Maine).

In the last 5-10 years it seems all the rinks that used to be full with waiting lists are all half full. Not sure how western teams are faring but I agree the large rink is no longer needed and doesn't seem to help much for programs. Sports saturation and 24x7 on TV/Streaming has made going live events less attractive. It is sad as those atmospheres were great and made the arenas fun to go to and enjoy the games. Crowds could impact games slightly at times.

[Jackcurtis23]

For the record, I'm glad they decided to stick with the Gut. I think we've seen in the last few years, that these cookie cutter 6,000 seat arenas like the one that was originally planned aren't cost effective and usually lack a good atmosphere. They just need the expertise and funding necessary to complete it, and do it in a way where they aren't cutting corners due to a lack of funding. There are ways to renovate these old barns to make them incredible (Northeastern) and there are times when they don't really have the support to pull it off so they end up having to plan for a new arena (Maine).

Maine isn't building a new arena.

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Maine isn't building a new arena.

No, what are they doing? Nothing? Tidying up Alfond? You’ve got some rabid fans, how do y’all see this issue?

[Jackcurtis23]

No, what are they doing? Nothing? Tidying up Alfond? You’ve got some rabid fans, how do y’all see this issue?

● Substantial upgrades to Alfond Arena, including a new enlarged entryway and concourse area, the installation of high definition video and ribbon boards, a new sound system, and upgraded Wi-Fi and television production services.
● Expansion of the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center, with new locker rooms for both men's and women's ice hockey, a new strength and conditioning center, along with a new hockey development center, new film rooms, new offices, and new team lounges.

[UVM Cat in Texas]

In the last 5-10 years it seems all the rinks that used to be full with waiting lists are all half full. Not sure how western teams are faring but I agree the large rink is no longer needed and doesn't seem to help much for programs. Sports saturation and 24x7 on TV/Streaming has made going live events less attractive. It is sad as those atmospheres were great and made the arenas fun to go to and enjoy the games. Crowds could impact games slightly at times.

Totally agree, which is why I suggested something along the lines of UConn's new rink, which has a capacity of 2600. The days of selling out the Gut are long gone, and even if we had a good team, I don't think it will ever happen again for the reasons you cited. Too many other things to do and ways to watch. A unique, non-cookie cutter design, with a 2250-2600 capacity would be amazing. You could add stuff to give it a Vermont flair -- solar panels, composting toilets, etc.

[UVM Cat in Texas]

● Substantial upgrades to Alfond Arena, including a new enlarged entryway and concourse area, the installation of high definition video and ribbon boards, a new sound system, and upgraded Wi-Fi and television production services.
● Expansion of the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center, with new locker rooms for both men's and women's ice hockey, a new strength and conditioning center, along with a new hockey development center, new film rooms, new offices, and new team lounges.

Those sound like major improvements. Thanks

[NYCatamount89]

My bad. I hadn't realized they changed plans from this: https://jlgarchitects.com/projects/u...ine-ice-arena/

As someone who loves Alfond that is great news. Still, I think the general point holds.

[NYCatamount89]

Totally agree, which is why I suggested something along the lines of UConn's new rink, which has a capacity of 2600. The days of selling out the Gut are long gone, and even if we had a good team, I don't think it will ever happen again for the reasons you cited. Too many other things to do and ways to watch. A unique, non-cookie cutter design, with a 2250-2600 capacity would be amazing. You could add stuff to give it a Vermont flair -- solar panels, composting toilets, etc.

I still think they can do 4000 if the team is better and they complete the upgrades. Also didn't UConn's new rink cost like $70M?

[Jackcurtis23]

My bad. I hadn't realized they changed plans from this: https://jlgarchitects.com/projects/u...ine-ice-arena/

As someone who loves Alfond that is great news. Still, I think the general point holds.

I saw that too, which certainly looks like a "new" arena, but I don't think the plan is for a completely new build. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong). The gift included 90 million to athletic dept., and the school is intending to spread that out over several programs I believe. And I believe both SHU and UCONN spent major cash on both of their new facilities, which from watching highlights look phenomenal. And I agree that your general point holds.

[Cat lover]

Agree about the Gutterson experience. Have had 4 season tickets for a long time and am thinking about subscribing to ESPN+ for a month to check out the broadcast with the thought towards ditching the tickets next year. Between people CONSTANTLY walking back and forth, having to ask kids to not stand in front of us on the glass and not having printed game programs...

I agree. It was fine the first year because we thought the construction would be over soon but now, we are in year what 3 and it's just getting worse. First the people walking back and forth during the game and this year you can add children constantly running around like it's a playground. The lack of programs unless you are a victory club member is sad. No pizza in the snack bar but they still have a pizza give-away during the game.

I think part of the reason for smaller attendance is a lot of the season ticket holders are older and still are not comfortable being in crowds, most of the regulars in my section that have not come back were older than 50. the Gut used to be full even during the bad years, but the combo of Covid/Construction/Bad teams has been too much for some.

[walrus]

I agree. It was fine the first year because we thought the construction would be over soon but now, we are in year what 3 and it's just getting worse. First the people walking back and forth during the game and this year you can add children constantly running around like it's a playground. The lack of programs unless you are a victory club member is sad. No pizza in the snack bar but they still have a pizza give-away during the game.

I think part of the reason for smaller attendance is a lot of the season ticket holders are older and still are not comfortable being in crowds, most of the regulars in my section that have not come back were older than 50. the Gut used to be full even during the bad years, but the combo of Covid/Construction/Bad teams has been too much for some.

People getting up and down during the game is one of the reasons I gave up my tickets at Alfond also. No waiting for a whistle, just barge in. Finally got fed up.

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Wow, great start for the Cats. Down 2-zip after 1, gave up a shorty, and Zapernick takes a stupid, completely senseless major penalty. How does this keep happening?

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Wow, great start for the Cats. Down 2-zip after 1, gave up a shorty, and Zapernick takes a stupid, completely senseless major penalty. How does this keep happening?

Very nice job to climb back into this one. They’ve shown they can be resilient. Now if they could just play 60 minutes of hockey, they might really be dangerous. Good job though Cats.